Magazine for September 2010
Mark Times
St. Mark’s was built 130 years ago, and for 70 of those years Joan Foulds has worshipped here, since her family moved back to Leamington when she was a schoolgirl. There is a family christening robe which is 150 years old, which she had worn at her baptism, and was last worn nine years ago by her great-great niece!
Joan has a wonderful memory, and can recall six previous St. Mark’s vicars: Canon Daniels, Revd Eldridge, Bishop Frank Houghton, Revd Cecil Redgrave,(inset) Revd Brian Ruff, Revd Alister Mort, (inset) and the many curates and two church army captains who were on the staff here.
There was quite a number of gentry in the congregation (including members of the Fairfax-Lucy family, who also owned Charlcote House). Some came in bath chairs from their big houses. They “paid” for their pews, and the little brass cardholders which bore their names can still be seen in some of the pews.
There was a blind organist, Mr. Snead, from whom Joan and her sister had piano lessons, The organ was played from the organ loft over the choir vestry. You can see the doors in the pierced screen on the north side of the chancel. The organist could open those doors and lean over (precariously?) to speak to the choir.
In 1953 the organ was overhauled and the console moved to what is now the prayer area. The choir was about 40 strong and processed and recessed around the church with a processional cross. There were many crosses and candlesticks around the church. It was fairly high church.
When Bishop Houghton came, in the fifties, there were big changes. The old vicarage was sold and the new one built – and the crosses and candlesticks were removed. Joan says, “He made it low church, which I preferred”.
St. Mark’s was evidently a lively place. Bishop Houghton held wonderful Bible studies each week from 7-10 pm “and he never used notes. He just spoke, and it was so interesting”.
There were missions, and several visits from David Sheppard, the England cricket captain, who gave up a brilliant cricketing career to be ordained, and eventually became Bishop of Liverpool. There was also a Billy Graham relay of one of his rallies, seen on a huge screen and attended by hundreds from the Leamington area.
It seems that about every 25 – 30 years we see changes to St. Mark’s. In Brian Ruff’s time St. Mark’s really led the way amongst local churches, building the kitchen and toilets at the back of church, creating the welcome area, and making the two rooms from the Church Room. Then later the new Church Hall, Kitchen and Office.
And now we are on the brink of again of making some changes, so that St. Mark’s can go on being even more welcoming than before, and continuing to spread the good news of the gospel.
A big thank you to Joan for all the memories she has shared.